Hasty Decisions

We were relaxing after a leisurely lunch at the dining table on Hubby’s last day of vacation. He mentioned the rain, and work, and wondered if “the guys” had missed him. Then he said he should have gone to work today since it’s raining as he looked at the clock. Way too late to get ready and go. Then in a heartbeat, he was gone from the table. I heard him brushing his teeth. He’s going to go, I thought to myself. Sure enough, he was dressed and out the door before I could say, “Have a good day.” Oh, he did take time to say goodbye and we still waved to one another from the window, but it was very different than ordinary days when he leaves for work fully prepared.

Today, the timetable was short - only a few minutes to get out the door. He went without his lunch. I offered to make him one and bring it to him, but he grabbed a few snacks from the cupboard, put them in this lunchbox, and said it was good enough.

As I watched him go through his routine in high gear, I thought how much better it is on those ordinary days when we are ready for him to head to work. Lunch is made earlier in the morning. Noon meal is on the table at noon. We linger over the meal savoring it before he has to leave. At the door, there is always conversation about having a good day, blessing others, and always, always, a farewell - “see you tonight.” Quite often, Hubby takes the trash out when he leaves for work as well, but there was no time today. I’ll need to deal with that later.

Ron’s hasty departure for work today based on his last minute decision, reminded me of those who wait until the last moment to finally believe in Jesus. We miss so much by not being ready. The void today with Ron at work seems greater somehow because it was a hasty decision, even though a good one, and I still have trash to take out.

Paul implores people to be ready when he quotes the prophet Isaiah in 2 Corinthians 6:2 saying, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Karen Peck has a new song out titled simply, “Be Ready.” If you know someone who needs to accept Jesus as Savior, implore them to be ready. Let them know that today is the day of salvation. A lot of people make good decisions in the final moments of their life but many more never get the chance. How much better it would be if today were their day of salvation.

• The believing wife prayerfully waiting for her unbelieving husband to accept Christ.

• The self-sufficient single clawing their way to the top of the corporate ladder, lonely and afraid, but still fighting.

• The luke-warm Christian struggling with worldly pleasures feeling like a spiritual failure.

Today, is the day of salvation . . .

I surrender all. I surrender all.

All to Thee my blessed Savior.

I surrender all.